Worst control city on an interstate in your state

Started by SkyPesos, August 05, 2022, 06:07:17 PM

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MATraveler128

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I-91 upon entering Vermont from Canada uses Newport, which is the next town over. Why not St. Johnsbury or even Springfield? I get there's not much in Vermont but still.
Formerly BlueOutback7

Lowest untraveled number: 96


vdeane

Quote from: MATraveler128 on November 10, 2024, 10:29:17 PMNot sure if it's been mentioned, but I-91 upon entering Vermont from Canada uses Newport, which is the next town over. Why not St. Johnsbury or even Springfield? I get there's not much in Vermont but still.
That's standard Vermont signage for you.  The standard VTrans sequence of signs after each exit is a reassurance shield, a speed limit sign, and a mileage sign with two destinations: the next exit and the next "major" control city.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

doorknob60

Quote from: PNWRoadgeek on November 09, 2024, 03:19:10 PM
Quote from: US 89 on November 04, 2024, 04:03:08 AMOntario looks ridiculous when Boise is 20 times its size and not even 50 miles down the road.
Yes! Just because Oregon has to sign SOMETHING in their state borders before we get to Idaho. It doesn't even have an important junction besides maybe OR 201, which combined with US 20/26 is a cut over to US 95 but it's faster to just take I-84 to get to 95. Makes no sense. Not that big of a place either with a population of just 11,000.

But I think it's just as bad when Idaho signs it west out of Boise. No need, though Portland is quite a distance away so I understand if they want to sign something out of state that isn't Portland, though if they were willing to go that route then they might as well just sign Pendleton out of Boise.

For your westbound suggestion, Pendleton isn't that much bigger than Ontario really. 11,000 vs 17,000 (and Ontario has "suburbs" if you want to call them that, in Fruitland and Payette). If you're going to sign a smaller cities (which I do think might be appropriate in this part of the country), might as well do the first one you get to, Ontario. From Boise/Nampa/Caldwell, a lot more of the traffic is heading to Ontario than to Pendleton. And a decent chunk will leave on OR-201 and US-20 towards Bend. I would still probably just sign Portland though, or sign both.

Eastbound I can't really excuse that though. Especially once you're beyond La Grande (and you could argue Pendleton or I-82), every sign should say Boise. Not sure if Boise needs to be signed all the way back into Portland though. The Dalles like it is now is a good enough proxy for "the gorge", and Pendleton and Hermiston both work as an "Eastern OR/I-82 split" proxy. I've seen both used as control cities, not sure which I'd prefer they stick with (Pendleton is actually directly on I-84, but Hermiston is right next to the I-82 split).

Eastern Oregon/the Columbia Gorge is weird. There are a bunch of cities all with a population between 10,000 and 20,000. Big enough to be regionally significant, but not really big enough to justify being control cities on an Interstate: The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, and Ontario are all in that population range (and Hood River just below at 8,000).

All that said, Yreka on I-5 and Hermiston/Umatilla on I-82 are still worse than anything on I-84.

PNWRoadgeek

Quote from: doorknob60 on November 11, 2024, 04:30:08 PM
Quote from: PNWRoadgeek on November 09, 2024, 03:19:10 PM
Quote from: US 89 on November 04, 2024, 04:03:08 AMOntario looks ridiculous when Boise is 20 times its size and not even 50 miles down the road.
Yes! Just because Oregon has to sign SOMETHING in their state borders before we get to Idaho. It doesn't even have an important junction besides maybe OR 201, which combined with US 20/26 is a cut over to US 95 but it's faster to just take I-84 to get to 95. Makes no sense. Not that big of a place either with a population of just 11,000.

But I think it's just as bad when Idaho signs it west out of Boise. No need, though Portland is quite a distance away so I understand if they want to sign something out of state that isn't Portland, though if they were willing to go that route then they might as well just sign Pendleton out of Boise.

For your westbound suggestion, Pendleton isn't that much bigger than Ontario really. 11,000 vs 17,000 (and Ontario has "suburbs" if you want to call them that, in Fruitland and Payette). If you're going to sign a smaller cities (which I do think might be appropriate in this part of the country), might as well do the first one you get to, Ontario. From Boise/Nampa/Caldwell, a lot more of the traffic is heading to Ontario than to Pendleton. And a decent chunk will leave on OR-201 and US-20 towards Bend. I would still probably just sign Portland though, or sign both.

Eastbound I can't really excuse that though. Especially once you're beyond La Grande (and you could argue Pendleton or I-82), every sign should say Boise. Not sure if Boise needs to be signed all the way back into Portland though. The Dalles like it is now is a good enough proxy for "the gorge", and Pendleton and Hermiston both work as an "Eastern OR/I-82 split" proxy. I've seen both used as control cities, not sure which I'd prefer they stick with (Pendleton is actually directly on I-84, but Hermiston is right next to the I-82 split).

Eastern Oregon/the Columbia Gorge is weird. There are a bunch of cities all with a population between 10,000 and 20,000. Big enough to be regionally significant, but not really big enough to justify being control cities on an Interstate: The Dalles, Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Baker City, and Ontario are all in that population range (and Hood River just below at 8,000).

All that said, Yreka on I-5 and Hermiston/Umatilla on I-82 are still worse than anything on I-84.
Pendleton has an important junction with US 395 and is also a tourist draw with Wildhorse Resort & Casino and the Pendleton Round-up. Though I feel like Portland is the way to go on I-84 out of Boise, even when you consider that OR 201 to US 20 is the fastest route to Bend.

Agree with you on Eastbound though. The Dalles is fine, because it does a good job of representing the Gorge as a whole. Though I think Boise should be the bottom line on all mileage signs out of The Dalles, with Hermiston and Pendleton being signed on the interchanges and pull-through signs. Should be all Boise after Pendleton though, Ontario is just awful, La Grande only has the junction with OR 82 and Eastern Oregon University going for it, and Baker City has basically one interchange on I-84.

The limited topography of Eastern Oregon plus the frantic NIMBYism that goes on there(and in Oregon in general) really limits growth over there, and it's probably the reason why we have these small cities signed on I-84. Though Yreka is just abysmal, no purpose for its use as a control city out of Ashland. Hermiston/Umatilla could also be changed outright easily to Kennewick/Seattle westbound or Kennewick/Spokane eastbound.
Applying for new Grand Alan.

boilerup25

New Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

Flint1979

I don't know if I've mentioned it but I was watching the control City freak guys video yesterday on the worst control cities in each state and for Michigan it was Saint Ignace. I might agree with this one because in the lower peninsula approaching the Mackinac bridge 180 miles south of it in Saginaw that's the control City then in the up it's St Ignace until you get to the US 2 interchange and it quickly changes to the Mackinac bridge for a minute and then to Saginaw on the lower peninsula.

Also in the lower peninsula Bay City is the control City at one interchange. The exit at the north end of the zilwaukee bridge has Bay City as the control City instead of the Mackinac bridge.

roadman65

Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

On I-78, Easton should no longer be used. It was originally used back when I-78 ended at Still Valley and US 22 continued the traffic, but now Allentown should really be used as it's a bigger city and the fact I-78 bypasses Easton. 

In addition, Kearney should not be used on I-280 at Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland especially being Newark, the state's largest city is right before it.
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

mgk920

Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)

hobsini2

Quote from: mgk920 on November 19, 2024, 09:43:19 AM
Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)
Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. Keep firing, assholes! - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)

mgk920

Quote from: hobsini2 on November 19, 2024, 09:50:45 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on November 19, 2024, 09:43:19 AM
Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)
Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

'Chicago' and 'Cleveland' would be good as secondary controls at I-80's beginning, but the others would be good local controls once on is in and boyond Pennsylvania.

Mike

MATraveler128

Quote from: hobsini2 on November 19, 2024, 09:50:45 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on November 19, 2024, 09:43:19 AM
Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)
Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

I remember watching Control City Freak's I-80 west video and he had Scranton listed as the westbound from Paterson. I actually think Scranton makes sense because it connects to I-380 which goes to Scranton. I'd personally use
Scranton ----> State College ----> then right to Cleveland since it's much bigger than Youngstown is and he had Youngstown as the control west from State College.
Formerly BlueOutback7

Lowest untraveled number: 96

Roadgeekteen

Quote from: MATraveler128 on November 19, 2024, 10:05:04 AM
Quote from: hobsini2 on November 19, 2024, 09:50:45 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on November 19, 2024, 09:43:19 AM
Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)
Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

I remember watching Control City Freak's I-80 west video and he had Scranton listed as the westbound from Paterson. I actually think Scranton makes sense because it connects to I-380 which goes to Scranton. I'd personally use
Scranton ----> State College ----> then right to Cleveland since it's much bigger than Youngstown is and he had Youngstown as the control west from State College.
Those make sense as control cities though on mileage signs I'd have Cleveland as the bottom line since New Jersey.
My username has been outdated since August 2023 but I'm too lazy to change it

Flint1979

Quote from: mgk920 on November 19, 2024, 10:02:03 AM
Quote from: hobsini2 on November 19, 2024, 09:50:45 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on November 19, 2024, 09:43:19 AM
Quote from: boilerup25 on November 18, 2024, 04:13:37 PMNew Jersey here, so either Shore Points on I-195 or Netcong on I-80. You could argue Delaware Water Gap, but it's enough of a destination to argue in favor of its value.

I have mentioned this in here many times before, I was totally flummoxed by 'Del Water Gap' for WB I-80 in New Jersey when I was raodtripping around there a couple of decades ago.  I went home firmly believing then (as I still very much am now) that 'Pennsylvania' would be far more accurate and better.

Mike (Appleton, WI)
Honestly, I would like to see Cleveland straight from the G Washington Bridge with secondaries of Patterson, The Poconos, State College, & Youngstown.

'Chicago' and 'Cleveland' would be good as secondary controls at I-80's beginning, but the others would be good local controls once on is in and boyond Pennsylvania.

Mike
Pennsylvania should be Youngstown and New York City. There is nothing significant enough along I-80 in Pennsylvania to sign anything else.

roadman65

New Jersey has no urge to go to far beyond the border to look for controls. Plus no desire to use mileage signs especially along I-80, a cross country interstate.  The NJTA had to add one of their own at I-80 because they won't. In fact I don't think you see any mileage signs WB other than that until you get to PA.
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe



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